Proposal and Design of a Mobile Robot-Restrained UAV Trainer

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as multicopter drones, are expected to play pivotal roles in varied domains. However, their operation poses challenges owing to the need for stringent safety measures and comprehensive training. This paper introduces a novel mobile robot-restrained UAV trainer to facilitate safe outdoor flight experiments and training sessions, which mitigates the risk of UAV crashes. The proposed system comprises three fundamental components: the UAV (flying object), a coupling-restraint mechanism, and a base platform. The base platform, which operates on the ground, is connected to the UAV via the coupling-restraint mechanism. This configuration allows the base platform to follow the movement of the UAV, thereby enabling training and experimental activities without concerns about potential UAV crashes. This paper outlines the system design, evaluates its impact on UAV motion through simulations, and presents a full-scale prototype for validation.